Habitat selection and diet of the Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus in Abernethy Forest,Strathspey, Scotland

Capsule Woodland characteristics are important for fully grown birds and for broods.

Aims To describe habitat selection and diet of the Capercaillie in ancient native pinewoods and Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris plantations, in order to provide a guide for forest management.

Methods Tree selection was studied in winter by locating droppings under trees along transects, and comparing those trees used by Capercaillie with those not used. Habitat selection by broods was studied by following radiotagged chicks or females with broods. Diet was described from the analysis of droppings.

Results In winter, Capercaillie preferred Scots Pines with wide crowns and large branches, and little surrounding Heather Calluna vulgaris, but avoided forest tracks. Female Capercaillie occurred in stands with a higher density of pines compared to males. The diet of fully grown birds comprised primarily Scots Pine needles between October and April. Scots Pine pollen cones were eaten during May, June and July. Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus leaves and fruit were eaten in summer and autumn. Habitats used by broods had a higher percentage of Vaccinium sp. and smaller Scots Pines compared with random sites. Chicks hatch at the beginning of June, and in their first two weeks, their diet comprised Formicidae, Lepidoptera larvae and Coleoptera. In July and August, Lepidoptera larvae were rarely eaten but a higher percentage of chicks took vegetable material (particularly Bilberry fruit). In June, smaller numbers of invertebrates were generally trapped in mires of wooded bogs compared with areas of Heather and Vaccinium sp. in old woodland. Areas of Vaccinium sp. had the highest numbers of Formicidae, Coleoptera and Diptera, and especially Lepidoptera larvae. Numbers of Lepidoptera larvae declined during June and July as larvae pupated, explaining the reduction of Lepidoptera larvae in the diet of older chicks.

Conclusions Habitat management for Capercaillie should aim to provide old Scots Pine forest with a Vaccinium-rich field layer. Within Scotland, this may entail increasing the tree density in ancient native pinewoods but decreasing it in pine plantations. The removal or closure of tracks might increase the amount of woodland available to Capercaillie, by reducing human disturbance.     

Seed-shedding in heather (Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull

Abstract

Background: Accumulating evidence, mainly from small-scale experiments, suggests that species diversity helps stabilise ecological communities; however, this relationship needs testing at larger scales in a wider range of natural communities.

Aims: In experimentally burnt ericaceous shrub stands, we aimed to determine whether more diverse stands had more stable vegetation cover.

Methods: Using two prescribed fire management experiments – one on heathland and one in forest – at scales of 100–700 m², we compared pre-disturbance vegetation characteristics (measures of diversity, traits and composition) with resistance (degree of perturbation on disturbance), resilience (here defined as post-disturbance recovery rate) and stability (the inverse of temporal variability).

Results: Responses to disturbance were usually best explained by a measure of dominance: Simpson's index. High dominance was associated with high resilience, but low resistance and low stability. Within the forest, the shrub community had lower dominance and higher stability than it did on heathland. Dominance and diversity were strongly linked as opposite poles of a principal axis of vegetation variation; therefore, more diverse vegetation was more stable.

Conclusions: Ericaceous shrub cover is known to support important ecosystem services, such as soil protection, carbon sequestration, flood prevention and livestock grazing. Our results suggest that high shrub diversity would support stable provision of these services. Land managers who prioritise this aim in British heathlands and pinewoods should consider a wider range of management approaches than those of typical current practice.     

Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus abundance and habitat use in Scotland,in winter 1998–99

CapsuleA second full survey in which we estimate the population at 1073 birds (95% CL 549–2041).

Aims To provide an up-to-date estimate of the population size of Capercaillie in Britain and to identify habitat use by Capercaillie in winter.

Methods Using the census technique of distance sampling, flushed birds were counted along line transects walked in stratified random blocks of forest within the species' range. The same transects were surveyed as used in the 1992–94 survey, enabling direct comparison of the results. Densities were estimated using the DISTANCE program, combining these data with those from a similar survey of Capercaillie in 1992–94 to allow a more robust estimate of the detection function.

Results The Capercaillie population was estimated to be 1073 birds (95% CL 549–2041). This represents a decline of 51% between the two surveys, at a rate of 13% per annum. Females declined at a faster rate than males resulting in a marked change in the sex-ratio, which was close to 1:1 for the entire population. Bird densities declined by a similar magnitude in both native pinewoods and other woodlands in comparison to 1992–94. Even so, densities were significantly higher in native pinewoods (1.63 km^-2) than in other woodlands (0.43 km^-2), which comprised largely planted Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris, larch Larix spp., Lodgepole Pine Pinus contorta and Sitka Spruce Picea sitchensis. Overall, Capercaillie tended to use forest stands with a high proportion of Scots Pine and Blaeberry Vaccinium myrtilus; features that are typical of native pinewoods and old pine plantations.

Conclusions The Capercaillie population has undergone a dramatic decline during the last five years. The decline has been greater for females and has occurred across habitats. This information is helping to focus efforts in securing the future for Capercaillie in Scotland, which has now become a major conservation challenge.     

Spring phenology shows genetic variation among and within populations in seedlings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the Scottish Highlands

Background: Genetic differentiation in phenotypic traits is often observed among forest tree populations, but less is known about patterns of adaptive variation within populations. Such variation is expected to enhance the survival likelihood of extant populations under climate change.

Aims: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) occurs over a spatially and temporally heterogeneous landscape in Scotland. Our goal was to examine whether populations had differentiated genetically in timing of bud flush in response to spatial heterogeneity and whether variation was also maintained within populations.

Methods: Two common-garden studies, involving maternal families of seedlings from 21 native pinewoods, were established and variation in the trait was measured at the beginning of the second growing season.

Results: Populations showed genetic differences in the trait correlated with the length of growing season at their site of origin, but the majority of variation was observed within populations. Populations also differed in their levels of variation in the trait; a pattern that may be influenced by spatial variation in the extent of temporal climate variability.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that populations have adapted to their home environments and that they also have substantial ability to adapt in situ to changes in growing season length.     

Assessing the effects of forest management on epiphytic lichens in coppiced forests using different indicators

Abstract

Epiphytic lichens are one of the taxonomic groups most sensitive to forest management. Nevertheless, they have not yet been exhaustively included in the assessment of Sustainable Forest Management. This work aimed at evaluating the effects of forest management on epiphytic lichens in coppiced forests, exploring the spatial patterns of diversity and the composition of communities. Moreover, the goal was to compare the performance of four potential indicators for monitoring the effects of forest management on epiphytic lichens: total lichen diversity, species associated with intensive management, species associated with aged coppiced woodlands and Indicator Species Ratio (ISR). In humid Mediterranean Liguria, 50 sampling units were chosen in Castanea sativa and deciduous Quercus spp. forests subjected to different forest management practices: intensively managed coppice and aged coppice/high forest. The effect of forest management was evident in terms of species composition, since it was possible to find significantly associated species for each of the two management types. At each sampling site, the four indicators were calculated using Indicator Value Analysis and compared through correspondence analysis. The ISR was shown to be a more effective indicator, being independent of floristic composition and the occurrence of rare species.     

Limits of pine forest distribution at the treeline: herbivory matters

Herbivores can affect future forest composition by feeding selectivity. At temperature-sensitive treelines, herbivory can exacerbate or constrain climate-driven distributional shifts in tree species. This study analyses the impact of herbivory in a Mediterranean treeline of widespread Pinus sylvestris and P. nigra pinewoods, testing whether herbivory damage reinforces or inhibits the climatic responses of these trees. We used naturally occurring sapling pairs of similar size and age of both species, thereby isolating plant characteristics from environmental effects in herbivore behaviour. Herbivory damage by ungulates proved higher than that caused by insects in saplings of both species. Low plant density and extreme abiotic conditions at the treeline could in part be responsible for the observed low incidence of insect herbivory. Ungulates preferred P. sylvestris over P. nigra, implying heavier browsing damage for a large number of P. sylvestris saplings, suffering reduced internode growth as a consequence. In addition, P. sylvestris could not compensate height-growth reductions due to browsing with higher growth rate than P. nigra. In fact, P. sylvestris showed similar or lower relative height growth with respect to P. nigra. Under a scenario of increasing aridity and maintenance of ungulate populations, the upward migration of P. sylvestris in its southern range could be restricted by higher drought vulnerability than P. nigra, a situation exacerbated by ungulate herbivory. Our results indicate that ungulate herbivory reinforces climatic response of coexisting P. sylvestris and P. nigra at treeline, favouring a potential change in community dominance towards Mediterranean P. nigra.     

Notes on the Potentilleæ

Background: Various rare and endangered temperate ferns are being threatened by their recent population decline, but there is limited understanding of the causes behind it.

Aims: This study attempted to identify the possible drivers of regional population decline and extinction in the globally distributed woodland fern Polystichum braunii.

Methods: A comparison was undertaken of the climatic, edaphic and phytosociological characteristics of sites with increasing, decreasing or recently extinct populations in Germany.

Results: A significantly higher frequency of episodes of low relative air humidity (<60%) was found at sites with decreasing or extinct populations compared to habitats with population increases. Sites with decreasing or extinct populations were also characterised as having less summer precipitation (<500 mm year^?1) and a shorter duration of snow cover (<110 days year^?1) than sites with increasing populations. The latter had significantly higher moss cover (56% of the forest floor), but less cover by a tree litter layer (23%) compared to decreasing (36% and 38%) or recently extinct populations (22% and 52%). All increasing populations were located in intact Tilia – Acer ravine forests, while those suffering population decline were mostly located in Fagus-dominated forests.

Conclusions: It was concluded that the probable causes of the recent decline in German P. braunii populations are reduced air humidity levels, decreasing snow duration or a shift from moss-covered to tree litter-covered forest floors due to climate warming or altered forest management.     

The history and mythology of Endymion nonscriptus

Background: Biological invasions are one of the major causes of biodiversity loss, yet remain rather understudied in tropical environments. The Australian palm tree Archontophoenix cunninghamiana was introduced into Brazil for ornamental purposes, but has become an invasive species in urban and suburban forest patches. The substitution of A. cunninghamiana by the native palm Euterpe edulis has been proposed as a management action.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the regeneration potential of these two palm species in an Atlantic forest remnant in south-eastern Brazil where both species occur.

Methods: We compared seedling establishment and seed longevity of both species through seed sowing, and also measured the contribution of A. cunninghamiana to the local seed rain and seed bank.

Results: Nearly half of the non-anemochoric diaspores collected from the seed rain belonged to A. cunninghamiana, which represented a high propagule pressure in the community. The distribution of the alien palm seeds in the seed rain correlated with the distribution of nearby young and adult individuals inside the forest. Neither A. cunninghamiana nor E. edulis appeared to have a persistent seed bank in a burial experiment; seedling survival experiments suggested a much better performance for A. cunninghamiana, which had a survival rate of ca. 30% compared with a rate of only 3.5% for E. edulis.

Conclusions: The results suggest a higher regeneration capacity for the alien palm over the native species when co-occurring in a forest fragment. Management actions are thus proposed to reduce a potential biological invasion process.     

基于FMEA的C形臂X线机的使用风险分析与控制

??????? 目的 基于失效模式与效应分析（FMEA）方法分析控制C形臂X线机的使用风险。方法 成立FMEA 5人小组,运用现场观察和访谈的方法,识别C形臂X线机使用的潜在失效模式,并对其发生的严重度、发生概率及检测的难易度进行评价打分,计算失效原因的风险优先指数。结果 FMEA小组找出了必须优先解决的C臂机使用的失效模式,制定并实施了改进措施,在不增加管理成本的基础上,取得了良好的管理效果。结论 FMEA可以评估医疗设备使用过程的失效,并能排序优先解决的问题,不增加管理成本就能预防问题的发生,是有效的过程管理工具。     

The social negotiation of nature conservation policy: conserving pinewoods in the Scottish Highlands

This paper examines the social and cultural processes through which conservation policy is derived. Focusing on the management of pinewoods in Abernethy Forest, Scotland, it explores the cultural politics involved in developing appropriate management practice. Calling upon participant observation, semi-structured interviews with site managers and the analysis of texts, it traces the gradual moves from a policy of minimum intervention towards more complex management regimes. The paper explores the social construction of the forest’s naturalness that underpinned the early policy of minimum intervention and then the ways that the forest was reconstructed as the managers debated the merits of minimum intervention and the degree to which they should intervene. The paper illustrates how managers have considered different forms of intervention and how they have tried to balance their concern with the naturalness of the forest with a need to intervene on behalf of particularly important species. It highlights the importance of conservationists’ culturally derived understandings of nature and suggests that an awareness of these cultures of nature is vital if conservationists are to develop robust policies.

Carbon sequestration by forests in the National Parks of Italy

Abstract

Recent attempts to mitigate global change have brought forestry-based carbon (C) sequestration into sharp focus due to its potential to absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere. However, the consequences of actual forest management practices on C storage capacity are still controversial to a certain extent. Under such a perspective, a distinctive relevant issue concerns the management of forest ecosystems within areas specifically designated for nature conservation. From the analysis of biomass data from forests in the National Parks of Italy, we found that the average forest C stock and sink per unit area is relatively higher within National Parks (81.21 and 2.18 tons ha^?1, respectively) than on the overall national territory (76.11 and 1.12 tons ha^?1 year^?1, respectively). The analysis confirms the influence of ecological conditions and management approach on C sequestration capacity. Although the results of the proposed assessment approach have to be considered as rough estimates, the trial proves interesting, given the relative lack of specific information, at least on a large scale, about C stocks and sinks within forest areas designated for nature conservation, and the direct comparison with those forest areas not designated to such an end. The C storage capacity can be enhanced by increasing the productivity of forests, minimizing the disturbance to stand structure and composition. Extending conservation strategies adopted in National Parks to other forest areas of the national territory would allow the restoration of C sequestration potential, where unsustainable management practices have degraded relatively large stocks of biomass.     

Nest survival of Woodpigeons (Columba palumbus) in North African forests

Capsule The nesting success of the Woodpigeon Columba palumbus in oak forests in Morocco is affected by human disturbance and nest-site characteristics.

Aims To determine factors affecting the nesting success of Woodpigeons subject to two levels of disturbance in a holm oak Middle Atlas forest.

Methods Woodpigeon nests were monitored in highly disturbed (n?=?30) and less-disturbed sites (n?=?60) over two years (2010–11). Logistic-exposure models were used to estimate daily nest-survival rate and evaluate mechanisms (altitude, temporal factors, nest location, nest-site habitat and degree of human influence) affecting nest survival.

Results Daily nest-survival rate was higher in less-disturbed sites (0.987; 95% CL: 0.980–0.991) than in high-disturbance sites (0.967; 95% CL: 0.949–0.978). Increasing density of trees surrounding nest sites and distance from the nest tree to the closest track increased daily nest-survival rate.

Conclusions Less-disturbed sites confer better nesting conditions than highly disturbed ones. Management measures should control the access of vehicles, especially trucks, in the forest of the Middle Atlas and introduce a grazing regime that will allow the forest regeneration, which would improve Woodpigeon nesting success by increasing the density of holm oak trees.     

自然林下与田间根腐三七根际微生物群落特征及比较分析

【背景】三七根际微生物群落特征与其土传根腐病害密切相关,而针对自然林下根腐三七的相关研究鲜见报道。【目的】比较分析自然林下与田间根腐三七根际土壤微生物群落的组成特征,结合土壤理化性质与酶活性分析,为三七根腐病害防治与仿野生栽培提供科学依据。【方法】采集自然林下与田间根腐三七根际土壤,利用高通量测序技术,分析土壤细菌与真菌群落的物种组成与多样性,并测定土壤理化性质和酶活性。【结果】自然林下与田间根腐三七根际土壤中细菌和真菌群落组成具有明显差异,自然林下根腐三七根际土壤中担子菌门(Basidiomycota)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)和疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobia)的相对丰度较高,而田间根腐三七根际土壤中子囊菌门(Ascomycota)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)和绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)的相对丰度较高。在属分类水平,镰刀菌属(Fusarium)是自然林下根腐三七根际土壤中的优势菌群,相对丰度为17.30%,而癣囊腔菌属(Plectosphaerella)是田间根腐三七根际土壤中的优势菌群,相对丰度为22.55%;Candidatus Ba...     

Outlining multi-purpose forest inventories to assess the ecosystem approach in forestry

Abstract

A summary and discussion of selected published results on the current and potential role of forest inventories (with particular reference to the national ones) are presented in the light of the challenges posed by society and policy decisions in the environmental sector. The analysis concentrates mainly on the ecological and socio-economic aspects of the question and on forest inventories' potential contribution to achieving sustainable forest management.     

Populations of Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. in the Cansiglio Regional Forest (Veneto,Pre-Alps,north-east Italy): Distribution,diversity and conservation issues

Abstract

The distribution of the epiphytic macrolichen Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. was surveyed in the Regional Forest of Cansiglio, extending over 3,500 ha in the eastern part of the Veneto Pre-Alps (north-east Italy). Data on the main characteristics of the forest sites and on Lobaria trees were collected with the aim to evaluate the main ecological factors, related to forest composition and management, affecting the distribution of Lobaria pulmonaria. Lichen diversity was surveyed on 15 randomly selected Lobaria trees. A good correlation between macrolichens and the total number of species was found. The largest Lobaria populations are concentred in the north-eastern part of the forest, where mixed and multi-plane silver fir – beech formations prevail, and selective cutting is carried out. Our data has enabled us to develop some criteria for the identification of priority conservation sites for Lobaria pulmonaria and lichen diversity in the study area, improving the focus on biodiversity in the management of the forest.     

Beech forest management does not affect the infestation rate of the beech scale Cryptococcus fagisuga across three regions in Germany

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八仙山不同类型松栎林群落主要特征分析

为探究八仙山保护区不同类型森林群落的更新潜力、多样性程度以及稳定性水平,阐明三者间的关系,该文以保护区内油松林、蒙古栎林和油松-栓皮栎混交林(松栎混交林) 3种不同类型天然次生林为对象,调查建群种径级结构和更新潜力,计算不同层次群落多样性,测定M. Godron稳定性,并采用主成分法建立评价模型。结果表明:(1)油松种群径级结构近似正态分布,处于成熟期,但幼苗较少;栓皮栎、蒙古栎以及阔叶杂木的幼苗、幼树较多,更新潜力较大。(2)松栎混交林的乔木层多样性较高,而灌木层多样性最低,油松林的草本层多样性最低;松栎混交林群落总体物种丰富度最低而均匀度最高。(3) M. Godron稳定性表明,蒙古栎林距离稳定点较近,而油松林偏离较远。(4) PCA双序图表明,M. Godron稳定性与种群更新潜力、Alatalo均匀度呈较强正相关,综合排序依次为松栎混交林、蒙古栎林和油松林。综上结果表明,建群种更新潜力和物种均匀度对群落稳定性影响较大,林地管理应注重对幼苗幼树的保护。     

Abundance,richness and composition of lianas in forest communities along an elevation gradient in New Caledonia

Background: Lianas are an abundantand dynamic component of tropical forests, and their abundance ispredicted to increase with global change. A better understandingof factors that explain their distribution is required, especially onoceanic islands for which few data are available.

Aims: Identifythe environmental factors that shape liana communities in NewCaledonian forests

Methods: We studied liana abundance,basal area, richness and climbing modes in 27 forest plots (20m × 20 m) along an elevation gradient (sea level to ca. 1000 ma.s.l.) that covers different forest types and precipitation regimes.

Results: We inventoried 992 lianas belonging to 71 species. The abundance and basal area decreased logarithmically withincreasing elevation while species richness tended to peak at midelevations.Twining lianas were the most abundant and species-richfunctional group. We found no clear relationship between climbingmodes and forest structure.

Conclusions: Our results show thatliana abundance decreases with increasing elevation in responseto lower precipitation in seasonal dry forest. At high elevation (600–1000 m a.s.l.), climbing secondary hemi-epiphytes replace lianasprobably as a result of climate-based niche differentiation. Variationof species richness along the gradient could not be explained byprecipitation or by forest structural parameters.     

Potential Management of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chamaedorea seifrizii</Emphasis> (Palmae), a Non-timber Forest Product from the Tropical Forest of Calakmul,Southeast Mexico<Superscript>1</Superscript>

Potential Management of Chamaedorea seifrizii (Palmae), a Non-timber Forest Product from the Tropical Forest of Calakmul, Southeast Mexico. Leaves and seeds of Chamaedorea (xate) palms are important non-timber forest products (NTFPs). In the Calakmul region (Yucatan Peninsula) of Mexico, several communities have sporadically collected and sold seeds of C. seifrizii since 1980. However, harvesting has intensified recently, raising concerns about overexploitation. To evaluate the economic potential of leaf and seed exploitation in the area, we collected information on abundance, population patterns, and leaf and seed stocks in Ejido Conhuas, a community within the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (CBR). Then we combined these data with current market values and hypothetical management regimes obtained from the literature for leaves and seeds. Conducting a quantitative analysis of 43 0.1^ha plots with differences in forest and soil type, we assessed the abundance of C. seifrizzi in the area. We also conducted interviews to estimate the importance of xate in the local economy. We found C. seifrizii density to be highly variable, with a mean (±SE) of 295 (±35), with forest type being the most influential factor. Population structures differ between forest types, with healthy populations in medium and lower forest. We found a mean density of leaves of harvestable size of 3,750 (±380) leaves ha^-1, while seed production was 1.5 (±0.3) kg/ha^-1 of fresh seeds. Assuming sustainable harvest rates of 30–50% for leaves and 80% for seeds, one hectare of forest could generate USD 7.0–15.9/ha^-1. Considering the number of households (102) and 10% of the total area managed each year (5,700 ha), this harvest could generate a household income of USD 391–838 annually. At the moment, xate trade represents a minor component in the economy of the community, but given the area’s extensive forest (>57,000 ha), the resource abundance, and the low human population, we believe the NTFPs derived from C. seifrizii have a potentially great economic impact in the area.     

Invasive plant species thresholds in the forests of Robinson Crusoe Island,Chile

Background: Invasion by exotic plants worldwide can lead to the loss of native species, particularly on islands with a high proportion of endemic plants, such as Robinson Crusoe Island (RCI).

Aims: We studied the two most invasive exotic plant species occurring in the forest of RCI: Aristotelia chilensis and Rubus ulmifolius. We aimed at establishing thresholds for environmental and microsite variables related to invasion.

Methods: Environmental and forest understorey variables, including canopy gaps and invasive species cover were measured in non-invaded and invaded forest sites. We expected more invasion in plots located close to invasive shrublands, and in large gaps with high solar radiation.

Results: We found no relationship between the distance to invasive shrublands and invasion probability. Solar radiation tended to be slightly related with a higher cover of R. ulmifolius, the most abundant invasive exotic plant in RCI forests. Overall, the cover of native ferns appeared to inhibit invasion.

Conclusions: The identification of variable thresholds related to invasion can be useful for guiding management decisions. Our results suggest that management should consider monitoring forest canopy gap formation and promote the establishment of ferns to reduce the probability of invasive species establishing.